The Palm we touch to day celebrates the people welcoming Jesus to His favourite city Jerusalem. They sing songs of welcome ....Hosanna, to the King. Jesus is going to die, because the people in authority didn’t like Him. He rides on a donkey that was on loan. There is no threat of power or fear in a donkey. Jesus was always teaching that God Our Father never threatens. Our God of love coaxes us. This week is also called Passion Week. The word passion means ..waiting. Jesus lets Himself be handed over to all the happenings in the Stations of the Cross. He is betrayed, beaten and ridiculed. There is a wonderful painting in the Art Gallery, called The Handing Over of Christ. There is violence and threats. Jesus alone is serene and peaceful. Our lives are full of waiting. We are handed over to so many happenings over which we have little or no control, like being born, being the kind of person I am, my age, location. There are set backs and disappointments all the time. I worry about my appearance. I worry about the job, about money, about the family, violence, about sick relatives and neighbours. Even the weather I can do little about. It happens. Jesus accepted our human condition, and turned it around. He transformed passion of waiting, and dying on Good Friday into the Resurrection of Easter, and that is our hope, peace, and joy. Happy Easter.

Liam Hickey, St.Ciarans, Hartstown, Dublin 15.